Sunday, June 11, 2017

The Infinite and Perfect, Studied by the Finite and Flawed

"Mathematicians are finite, flawed beings who spend their lives trying to understand the infinite and perfect. That kind of thing is bound to result in problems and misunderstandings. Trends and fashion, politics and pig-headedness all affect the lurching progress of mathematical knowledge. None of them, however, affect the validity of mathematical knowledge. 'There are many ways,' [Edward] Rothstein writes, 'to show that the ratio between the circumference of any any circle and its diameter is always the same, a number known as pi. The priests, farmers, and builders who first used that ratio may have had various intentions and goals. And the ratio may be given names like pi or zed or Milwaukee, for that matter. But the number and its meaning are unaffected by cultural apparatus and influence.'"

Me...

I'm a number-luvin' primate; hope you are too! ..."Shecky Riemann" is the fanciful pseudonym of a former psychology major and lab-tech (clinical genetics), now cheerleading for mathematics! A product of the 60's he remains proud of his first Presidential vote for George McGovern ;-) ...Cats, cockatoos, and shetland sheepdogs revere him.
Li'l more bio here.

...............................--In partial remembrance of Martin Gardner (1914-2010) who, in the words of mathematician Ronald Graham, “...turned 1000s of children into mathematicians, and 1000s of mathematicians into children.” :-)............................... Rob Gluck